biostudies-literatureUnknown75(23)Birkmann AAn immunodominant envelope glycoprotein is encoded by the human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) (also termed Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus) K8.1 gene. The functional role of glycoprotein K8.1 is unknown, and recognizable sequence homology to K8.1 is not detectable in the genomes of most other closely related gammaherpesviruses, such as herpesvirus saimiri or Epstein-Barr virus. In search for a possible function for K8.1, we expressed the ectodomain of K8.1 fused to the Fc part of human immunoglobulin G1 (K8.1DeltaTMFc). K8.1DeltaTMFc specifically bound to the surface of cells expressing glycosaminoglycans but not to mutant cell lines negative for the expression of heparan sulfate proteoglycans. Binding of K8.1DeltaTMFc to mammalian cells could be blocked by heparin. Interestingly, the infeJournal of virology11583-93https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC114745biostudies-literatureCell surface heparan sulfate is a receptor for human herpesvirus 8 and interacts with envelope glycoprotein K8.1.PMC114745Titgemeyer FYaguboglu SMahr KEnsser ABirkmann ANeipel FFleckenstein BfalseCell surface heparan sulfate is a receptor for human herpesvirus 8 and interacts with envelope glycoprotein K8.1.An immunodominant envelope glycoprotein is encoded by the human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) (also termed Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus) K8.1 gene. The functional role of glycoprotein K8.1 is unknown, and recognizable sequence homology to K8.1 is not detectable in the genomes of most other closely related gammaherpesviruses, such as herpesvirus saimiri or Epstein-Barr virus. In search for a possible function for K8.1, we expressed the ectodomain of K8.1 fused to the Fc part of human immunoglobulin G1 (K8.1DeltaTMFc). K8.1DeltaTMFc specifically bound to the surface of cells expressing glycosaminoglycans but not to mutant cell lines negative for the expression of heparan sulfate proteoglycans. Binding of K8.1DeltaTMFc to mammalian cells could be blocked by heparin. Interestingly, the infe2001-01-01T00:00:00Z2001 Dec2025-04-04T09:31:53.145Z2019-03-27T00:17:06ZS-EPMC1147451168964010.1128/JVI.75.23.11583-11593.200110.1128/jvi.75.23.11583-11593.2001